Schedule

Schedule
Intro
Storage and display of seismic data
Standard interpretation workflow

Seismic stratigraphy
Seismic sequence analysis
Seismic Interpretation & Seismic facies analysis

Sequence Stratigraphy Seismic stratigraphy & depositional environment prediction

Terrestrial environments
Shallow-marine environments
Deep-marine environments
Stefan
Stefan Back,
Back, RWTH
RWTH Aachen
Aachen University
University
Sequence stratigraphy
Stratigraphic Methods & Stratigraphic Controls
Sequences & Sequence Concepts
Chronostratigraphic Charts
Sequence Characteristics, Systems Tracts
Parasequences, Well- and Outcrop-Based Sequence Stratigraphy

Literature
Literature
Seismic Interpretation
BROWN, A. (2011): Interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data. AAPG Memoir
42, 7th edition.
HERRON, D.A. (2011): First steps in seismic interpretation. Geophysical Monograph
Series 16, SEG

Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

Intro
Intro
NICOLS, G. (2009): Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.

Sequence Stratigraphy
COE, A. L. (2003): The Sedimentary Record of Sea-Level Change. The Open
University, Bath Press.
EMERY, D. & MYERS, K. (1996): Sequence Stratigraphy, Blackwell Science.
CATUNEANU, O. et al. (2009): Towards the standardization of sequence stratigraphy.
Earth Science Reviews, 92, 1-33.
Seismic
Seismic Interpretation
Interpretation -- Intro
Intro 2D
2D and
and 3D
3D

• acoustic image of the

subsurface
• reflection time contains
information on depth of
subsurface interface
• reflected energy contains
information on properties

 Bridge between Geophysics and Geology

(is a seismic section a geological profile?)

 Balance between ‘Science’ and ‘Art’

 Young discipline with rapidly changing technology

Reacquisition
Reacquisition and/or
and/or Reprocessing:
Reprocessing:
Seismic
Seismic interpretation/seismic
interpretation/seismic stratigraphy
stratigraphy Improving
Improving Resolution
Resolution
 Imaging has improved to the point that a seismic-reflection line can resemble a
geological cross section, with all the potential for interpretation. Yet, seismic lines
1994
are generally low resolution tools, but they have much better lateral coverage than 1983
outcrops.

 Seismic data allows characterization and quantification of the subsurface: But,

instead of grain size and composition use amplitude, frequency, continuity, and
velocity. These features can be quantified easily when the data is in digital format.

 Layer Geometry: Seismic data show gross geometry within the limits of resolution
over large areas. Vertical Exaggeration can be changed to reveal subtle angular
relationships. Although resolution is low you can follow individual layers (impedance
contrasts) or patterns of layers for considerable distances.

 Seismic interpretation and seismic stratigraphic analysis comprise predictive tools

that can allow you to predict lithology, depositional environment, sea level
changes….
Influence
Influence of
of Workstation
Workstation Technology
Technology on
on
Interpretation
Interpretation

Started new era in the 1990’s by:

 high accuracy of time picking

 autotracking of seismic horizons

Storage and Display of Seismic Data
 immediate extraction of amplitudes in grids, next to time grids

 application to 3D seismic opens up new manipulations like:

 creation of random lines
 interpretation of timeslices
 reservoir characterisation from continuous attributes

What
What can
can be
be seen
seen on
on seismic
seismic data?
data? Seismic
Seismic Polarity:
Polarity: ‘Plotting’
‘Plotting’ Conventions
Conventions

Interface Model: Layer Models:

acoustic impedance increase with depth (hard kick)
 Acoustic impedance contrast: R e f l e c t i v i t y Pseudo-Impedance Impedance Pseudo-Imp.
controls whether energy is reflected spike minimum phase z e r o – p h a s e zero-phase Model zero-phase
ρV SEG polarity Shell ρv Shell / SEG
America Europe
 Frequency: - + - +
controls vertical and horizontal resolution shale

 Signal-to-noise ratio:
controls whether reflected energy can be detected limestone

 Acoustic Impedance Z: acoustic impedance

from reflectivity in
SEG polarity by
reflectivity integration or
Z=ρV where: ρ is density –900 phase shift
V is velocity
NOTE: the SEG Plotting Convention for zero-phase reflectivity
data is the opposite of the SEG Acquisition Convention!
Display
Display polarity
polarity according
according to
to Brown
Brown Which
Which polarity
polarity convention?
convention?

Which
Which polarity
polarity convention?
convention? Deterioration
Deterioration of
of Resolution
Resolution with
with Depth
Depth

But: always check processing report, if available!!!!!!

From A. Brown
Limits
Limits of
of Resolution
Resolution and
and Detectability
Detectability (1)
(1) Limits
Limits of
of Resolution
Resolution and
and Detectability
Detectability (2)
(2)
Depth
Time
(m)
descriptors age of rocks v. young young medium old v. old (s)
depth of target v. shallow shallow medium deep v. deep 2900
interval velocity [ms/] 1600 2000 3500 5000 6000
predominant frequency [Hz] 70 50 35 25 20
Spectrum left:
Low cut 7- 14 Hz
λ
lution

wavelength [m] 23 40 100 200 300

reso-

High cut 167-250 Hz

tuning thickness [m] λ/4 6 10 25 50 75
poor weak: water sand / shale λ/8 3 5 13 25 38 2950 Spectrum right:
detectability

moderate modest: oil sand / shale λ/12 2 3 8 17 25 Low cut 7-14 Hz

high strong: gas sand / shale λ/20 1 2 5 10 15
High cut 30-45 Hz
excellent v. strong: gas sand / carb λ/30 0.8 1 3 7 10
S/N ratio impedance contrast 2300

2.2
3050

3100

© C. Höcker 2008
from A. Brown
from Shell

Accepted
Accepted Terms
Terms for
for 3D
3D Seismic
Seismic Display
Display Directions
Directions Simple
Simple Seismic
Seismic Display
Display Directions
Directions

time-slice

oblique section

cross-line
© C. Höcker 2008 19 © C. Höcker 2008
in-line arbitrary-line 20
From A. Brown Landmark
Composite
Composite Seismic
Seismic Displays
Displays Standard
Standard interpretation
interpretation workflow
workflow
 Faults:
Simply big structures
Structures suspected to be of kinematic importance (e.g., basement fault)
Faults with latest movement first (likely to offset older faults)

 Horizons:
Identification of major continuity surfaces with good impedance contrast
Identification of major discontinuity surfaces
Picking of important geological horizons (e.g., as identified in wells or outcrop)
Mapping of any other outstanding event

 Seismic facies analysis:

Analysis of external form (mound, fill, lense, sheet, clinoform)
Analysis of reflectivity attributes: continuity/amplitude/frequency
Analysis of internal reflection configuration
Lithofacies prediction
chair display
© C. Höcker 2008 21
Landmark

Exercise
Exercise 1a
1a

Tasks – Niger Delta Exercise

1. Interpret faults:

 Simply big structures

 Structures suspected to be of kinematic importance (e.g., basement fault)

 Faults with latest movement first (likely to offset older faults)

2. Interpret Horizons:

 Identify major seismic continuity surfaces with good impedance contrast

Exercise
Exercise 1b
1b
Line2028 in time (s TWT) offshore NW Australia

Tasks – Australia Exercise (on screen)

1. Interpret faults:

 Simply big structures

 Structures suspected to be of kinematic importance (e.g., basement fault)

 Faults with latest movement first (likely to offset older faults)

2. Interpret Horizons:

 Identify major seismic continuity surfaces with good impedance contrast

Exercise
Exercise 1c
1c 05CM-38 in time (s TWT) offshore New Zealand (Hikurangi)

Tasks – New Zealand Exercise

1. Interpret faults:

 Simply big structures

 Structures suspected to be of kinematic importance (e.g., basement fault)

 Faults with latest movement first (likely to offset older faults)

2. Interpret Horizons:

 Identify major seismic continuity surfaces with good impedance contrast